Crime and Passion

Crime and Passion

Year: 1976

Runtime: 96 mins

Language: English

Director: Ivan Passer

CrimeDramaThriller

A corrupt financier, accustomed to cheating with money and love, pushes his mistress into marrying a wealthy industrialist to secure cash. When the new husband reveals a plot to murder both the mistress and the financier, he finds himself gambling with his own life in a deadly game of deceit and betrayal.

Warning: spoilers below!

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Timeline & Setting – Crime and Passion (1976)

Explore the full timeline and setting of Crime and Passion (1976). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

Location

Swiss Alps, Rolf's castle, Ski resort, Village inn

The story unfolds around a remote castle in the Swiss Alps, a luxurious stronghold that mirrors the wealth and power at stake. Several key scenes take place at a nearby ski resort and a village inn, locations where affairs, pursuit, and danger intersect. The snow-drenched landscape and secluded interiors heighten tension, distrust, and the sense of being constantly watched.

🏔️ Alpine setting 🏰 Castle locale

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 17:49

Main Characters – Crime and Passion (1976)

Meet the key characters of Crime and Passion (1976), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

Susan Winters (Karen Black)

Susan is André's girlfriend and coworker who navigates a high-stakes game of wealth and loyalty. She agrees to marry Rolf on the condition that André inherits his fortune, hoping to secure power and independence. As danger tightens, she becomes wary of exposure and begins reevaluating her loyalties. Her feelings and choices shift as the scheme spirals out of control.

💼 Businesswoman 💔 Betrayal 🎭 Drama

André Ferren (Omar Sharif)

André is a suave broker who engineers a plan to ruin his rival and profit from the ensuing scandal. When accused of stealing $2.5 million, he insists he is framed and works to uncover the conspiracy while evading danger. His pursuit of truth and survival drives him through ski resorts and castle corridors. His fate hinges on outsmarting a network of powerful adversaries.

💼 Broker 💰 Ambition 🎭 Drama

Rolf (Bernhard Wicki)

Rolf is a wealthy, ruthless client who uses his fortune to manipulate others and test their loyalties. He orchestrates the marriage and manipulation in a bid to control the wealth, employing surveillance to keep everyone in line. His ruthlessness is revealed as ex-wives are murdered and his plans begin to unravel. He ultimately meets a grim fate in the snow.

💼 Millionaire 🧠 Manipulation 🎭 Drama

Larry (Joseph Bottoms)

Larry is a charming ski instructor who becomes Susan's lover and a tool in the castle's dangerous plot. He serves as a violent enforcer inside the fortress, wielding a sword during a confrontation with André. His loyalties are tested as the scheme tightens its grip on everyone involved.

💘 Romance ⚔️ Violence 🎭 Drama

Henkel (Heinz Ehrenfreund)

Henkel is the loyal manservant who carries out orders to protect Rolf's interests and eliminate threats. He plays a key role in the castle's deadly games, participating in murder attempts and security measures. His fate foreshadows the danger that power and wealth invite into the castle’s walls.

💼 Servant 🗡️ Violence 🎭 Drama

Innkeeper (Franz Muxeneder)

The innkeeper operates within a village inn and is tied to the castle's web of surveillance and secrets. A pivotal moment reveals the innkeeper's face beneath a helmet, exposing hidden loyalties and the interwoven threats that travel between the castle and the surrounding villages.

🗝️ Secret identity 🏰 Castle setting

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 17:49

Major Themes – Crime and Passion (1976)

Explore the central themes of Crime and Passion (1976), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

🕵️ Betrayal

Betrayal drives the plot as loyalties shift between André, Susan, and Rolf. Each character uses deceit to secure their own interests, creating a web of suspicion that is nearly impossible to unravel. The castle's cameras and surveillance amplify the sense that private thoughts are no longer private. The narrative examines how personal ambition can corrode trust and lead to deadly consequences.

💰 Wealth

Wealth functions as both prize and weapon, pushing characters to take extreme risks. The fortune at stake shapes alliances, marriages, and schemes, revealing how money can corrupt judgment. Luxurious settings underscore the disparity between appearance and danger hidden beneath the surface. The pursuit of financial power ultimately accelerates the violence surrounding the characters.

⚔️ Violence

The film builds suspense through repeated threats, chases, and confrontations within the castle walls. Weapons, traps, and fatal misfires punctuate the plot, testing who can outmaneuver whom. The climactic sequence blends surveillance with physical danger, culminating in a grim winter death. Violence here is a product of manipulation as much as of raw force.

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 17:49

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Crime and Passion Summary

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Crime and Passion Summary

Crime and Passion Timeline

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Crime and Passion Timeline

More About Crime and Passion

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Crime and Passion (1976) Plot Summary & Movie Recap

Crime and Passion (1976) Scene-by-Scene Movie Timeline

Crime and Passion (1976) Spoiler-Free Summary & Key Flow